Notary Stamp and Seal Requirements

Here's a list of five things that all Notaries should know about their notary stamp or Seal.

1. Keep your notarial stamp or seal under your control at all times—do not allow unguarded access to your stamp or seal as this often results in unauthorized use.

2. Your notary stamp or seal is yours to use and keep; your employer has no right to control or keep your stamp or seal even if the employer paid for it.

​3. You must report a lost or missing seal immediately to your state notary authority.

4. ​If you obtain a new stamp or seal because the old one expired or your name changed, you should destroy or deface the old stamp or seal.

5. ​Your state
notary laws will indicate whether a notary ink stamp or embossing seal
is required in your commissioned state, and what must appear on the
stamp and/or seal. You may use the chart below for a quick reference;
see your state statutes for complete information about your state's
notary ink stamp or embossing seal requirements.

Alaska- Ink
Stamp or Embossing Seal Required. Must be photographically
reproducible. If using an embosser alone as the official seal, the
embossment must be inked (seal impression inker). If using an embosser
in conjunction with an ink stamp, do NOT ink the embossment.

Arizona- Ink Stamp Required. “Dark ink” specified. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with the official ink stamp.

District of Columbia- Embossing
Seal Required. Use of a seal impression inker in conjunction with the
embossing seal is REQUIRED (to render seal impression photographically
reproducible).

Florida- Ink
Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts. The notary ink stamp may be either
round or rectangular. An embossing seal may ONLY be used in conjunction
with the official notary ink stamp. Seal impression MUST be
photographically reproducible. (For electronic acts, notary's electronic
signature must include same information elements required for the
ink-stamp. See statutes and administrative rules for additional
standards.

Michigan- Not
Required. If electing to use an official seal, an ink stamp is
acceptable (photographically reproducible). Embossing seal allowed ONLY
in conjunction with the ink stamp.

Minnesota- Ink
Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts. Must be photographically
reproducible, embosser allowed only in conjunction with ink-stamp.
(Electronic notarial acts must include all information elements of the
ink-stamp.)

Mississippi- Ink
Stamp Required. Notary seal image must be sharp, legible, permanent
and photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in
conjunction with the official ink stamp, and only if embossing seal
imprint is NOT inked.

Missouri- Ink
Stamp or Embossing Seal Required. Must be photographically
reproducible; black ink specified for stamp. If embosser used as
official seal, notary must type, stamp or handwrite additional
information on every notarial certificate.

Montana- Ink
Stamp Required. Blue or black ink specified. For new and
renewal commissions issued on or after October 1, 2009: Notaries are
required to use an ink stamp prescribed by the Secretary of State.

Nebraska- Ink Stamp Required. Round seals are discouraged by the Secretary of State; the rectangular stamp is "suggested."

North Dakota- Ink Stamp Required. Must be photographically reproducible. Embossers are prohibited.

Ohio- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required

Oklahoma- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required

Oregon- "Official
Stamp” Required, Paper and Electronic Notarial Acts. Must be legible
(photographically reproducible). For ink-stamp, permanent ink is
specified; black or dark ink recommended. Embossing seal allowed ONLY
in conjunction with ink stamp. Notary may possess more than one
stamping device. Ink-stamp impression is no longer filed by the notary
with the Secretary of State. Electronic notaries must report their
chosen technology with the Secretary of State.

Pennsylvania- Ink
Stamp Required, Paper Notarial Acts. Must be photographically
reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink
stamp. (For electronic acts, notary's electronic signature must include
notary's name as commissioned, "Notary Public," notary's municipality
and county, and commission expiration date. Graphic representation of
the paper-act seal is not required.)

Rhode Island- Not Required

South Carolina- Ink
Stamp or Embossing Seal Required. Notary must “have” a seal of office,
but SC law also allows for omission of the seal on a notarial
certificate if the notary’s official title is affixed below his/her
signature. Acceptable forms of title: Notary Public for South Carolina;
SC Notary Public; Notary Public for SC.

South Dakota- Ink Stamp or Embossing Seal Required

Tennessee- Ink Stamp Required. Any ink color other than black or yellow. Seal impression must be photographically reproducible.

(U.S.) Virgin Islands- Embossing Seal Required. Ink Stamp may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.

Utah- Ink
Stamp Required. Ink stamp must contain purple ink. Must be
photographically reproducible. Embossing seal allowed ONLY in
conjunction with ink stamp; embossment must NOT be inked.

Vermont- Not Required

Virginia- Ink
Stamp or Embossing Seal Required, Paper Notarial Acts. Must be
photographically reproducible. (Electronic signature/seal includes
image or text with specified information elements that correspond to
those in the paper-act seal.)

West Virginia- Ink Stamp Required. Must be photographically reproducible. Embossing seal may be used ONLY in conjunction with ink stamp.

Wisconsin- Ink
Stamp or Embossing Seal Required. Notary may utilize both ink stamp
and embossing seal if both device imprints are on file with the
Department of Financial Institutions, and the notary’s name appears
exactly the same on both devices.